Food pedal operated latch mechanism



Jan. l5, 1957 w. o. BURKE FOOT PEDAL OPERATED LATCH MECHNISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1954 Jan. l5, 1957 w. o. BURKE FooT PEDAL OPERATED LATCH MEcHANrsM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1954 will-Illllllfl Jan. 15,1957 w. o. BURKE l FOOT PEDAL OPERATED LATCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16, 1954 United States Patent() FOOD PEDAL OPERATED LATCH MECHANISM William 0. Burke, Rockford, lll., assigner to National Locky Company, Rockford, lll., a corporation of Delaware Application April 16, 1954, serial No. 423,595 9 claims. (ci. vii- 144) The present Vinvention relates to a' novel latch and lock mechanism for a chest of the type provided with a lid orrclosureadapted to be lifted for access to the interior of the cabinet, and more particular to a chest-type refrigerator lor low temperature freezer unit in which the cooperating latch members are mounted upon the adjacent edges of the lid or closure and the cabinet and latching is effected across the parting line between the lid or closure and the upper edge of the cabinet. Chests or cabinets of the type herein referred to generally have a relatively heavy lid and a gasket between the lid and cabinet for effectively sealing the interior of the cabinet except when the lid is elevated for access to the contents.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel latch construction for a chest-type refrigerator or freezer unit which is easily and conveniently operated and when in latched position develops a gasket pressure that assures and maintains positive sealing between thelid or closure and the cabinet.

To facilitate unlatching of the lid, the present invention comprehends novel foot-actuated unlatching means whereby the operator or party desiring access to the cabinet or chest depresses a foot pedal to unlatch the latch mechanism, whereupon the lid -or closure may be elevated to the desired raised position for access to the interior of the cabinet.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel means and mechanism for maintaining the latch mechanism locked against entry except by one having the proper key or means for rotating the lock leaf or bar `on the tumbler of the keylock to release position. Thus if it is desired to maintain the lid latched or locked to the cabinet and thereby prevent unauthorized access to the contents or interior of the cabinet, this may be quickly and easily accomplished by closing and latching the lid and upon turning or manipulating the tumbler of the keylock by means of a key yor the like, unlatching cannot be effected by an unauthorized person or one who does not have the prescribed key or unlocking means.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel latch retaining means or keeper assembly and manner of mounting this assembly in the cabinet, as well as a novel strike hook assembly and manner of adjustably mounting the strike hook in the lid and controlling its operation.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eliiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a chest type low temperature cabinet to which the novel latch and lock mechanism has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view in front elevation of an upper portion of the cabinet and lid but omitting the gasket therebetween, and showing in dotted outline the novel latch and lock mechanism in latched or closed position with the keylock bolt turned to open position to permit release of the latch and opening of the lid, the strike hook or latch member of the assembly being shown mounted in the lid or closure and the latch retaining means or keeper assembly and keylock bolt mounted in the chest or cabinet. s

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of Fig. 2 showing the latch retaining means or keeper assembly and the strike hook or latch member in latched or closed position as in Fig. 2, bu-t with the keylock bolt in locked position to prevent unauthorized opening of the lid.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in Vertical cross section through the lid and cabinet and'showing the latch and lock assembly in end elevation, the view being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 but including the foot pedal and the lower end of the foot pedal rod.

Fig. 5 is afragmentary View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the latch retaining means lor keeper assembly in cocked position with the strike hook about to enter the keeper assembly as the lid is being moved to closed position.

Fig. 6 is a View in front elevation yof the foot-actuated pedal for releasing the latch assembly and permitting opening of the lid or closure.

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the latch and lock assembly but showing the position of the parts as the lid is being closed and the strike hook enters the latch retaining means or keeper assembly and is about to release the cooking lever.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 but with parts of the latch retaining means in vertical cross section and showing the action of the latch mechanism as the lid is being opened and the strike hook i-s being disengaged from the latch roller.

Fig. 9 is a view in rear elevation of the latch bolt.

Fig. l0 is a bottom plan View of the cocking lever.

Fig. ll is a `top plan view of the assembled hook bracket, bushing and ystop pin upon which the strike hook is mounted.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings and to the novel embodiment therein selected to illustrate the present invention, the novel latch assembly is shown mounted on a chest-type storage and freezer unit adapted to receive and maintain foods at low ternperature, and having a cabinet 10 and a relatively heavy lid or closure 11 with a gasket 12 (Fig. 4) therebetween which is shown carried by the lid or closure and adapted to have continuous sealing contact at 13 with the adjacent upper edge of the cabinet. As storage units of this type are constructed and intended to maintain the interior of the cabinet and its stored contents at a relatively low temperature, the cabinet and lid are well insulated and generally of relatively heavy construction with the gasket 12 providing an elective seal therebetween when the lid 11 is closed and latched.

The novel latch mechanism of the present invention comprises a two-part assembly, a strike hook or latch member 14 mounted in the lid or closure 11 and a latch retaining means or keeper assembly designated generally by the reference character 15 mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet 10 and thereat adapted to receive the strike hook or latch member 14 through an opening at 16 in the cabinet when the lid is in closed position.

The inner end 17 of the strike hook or latch member 14 is conformably received in the channeled outer end of one leg 18 of a hook bracket 19. To permit this end k17 to be longitudinally adjustable upon the legy 18, this leg is provided with an elongated and longitudinally extending slot 20 for the reception of the shank of a set or locking screw 21, the threaded shank of which is received in an oiset portion (Fig. 4) of the leg 18.

.The hook bracket 19 is in the form of abellcrank provided with a laterally projecting bushing `22 (Figs. 4 and ll) the bore of which is adapted to receive a rivet or pin 23 upon which the hook bracket 18 is pivotally `mounted inthe downwardly-opening channelof a supporting bracket or housing 24 securely mountedwithin the lid or closurell byscrews or` other attachingmeans `25. The other leg 26 of the hook bracket or bell `crank 18 carries a stop pin 27 one end of which is anchored to and carried by the hook bracket and the other'end of which projects into a substantially rectangularopening or slot 28 in the forward wall29 (Fig. 4) of the supporting bracket 24. This pin 27 moving in the 4slot or opening 28 limits the arc of movement of the hook bracket or bell crank 18 about its pivot pin23.

To spring-bias the hook bracket or bell crank 18 and its strike'hook or latch member 14 in a clockwise or engaging direction, it is provided with a coil spring 30 disposed within the channel of the hook bracket or bell crank 18 and having a part coiled or encompassing the pin or rivet 23. One of the ends 31 of this-coil spring 30 bears against a fixed pin or projection 32 on the supporting bracket 24 and the other end 33 bears against the stop pin 27 carried by the hook bracket or bell crank 18.

The novel latch retaining means or keeper assembly is shown mounted within a lock housing 34 (Fig. 4) of channelshape having outwardly projecting anges 35 at its upper end each secured to an anchoring plate 36 by means of bolts or other securing means 37. Mounted within this lock housing 34 and adjacent the upper end is a roller or keeper 38 mounted on a xed transverse or cross pin 39 having its ends fixed in the opposite side walls 41 and 42 of the housing. One end of the pin 39 projects through an elongated slot 43 adjacent one end of a strike pull plate 44, the other end of this plate having an opening for receiving an end of a transverse or cross pin 45 on which is mounted a second roller 46. A pin 47 projects from a depending part of the'strikepull plate 44 below the slot 43.

The roller 46 and its pin 45 are carried in the opposite spaced sides 48 and 49 of a latch bolt 51, the sides 48 and 49 of which are joined by spaced webs 52 and 53 with the latter slotted at 54 for receiving a pivotally mounted plate or arm 55 (Fig. 9). One end of this plate or arm 55 is pivotally attached to a transverse or cross pin 56 carried in the spaced sides 48 and 49 and about which the latch bolt pivots, and the other end of this plate or arm 55 is pivotally connected by a pin 57 to an internally threaded and detachable connecting link 58 at the upper end of a substantially vertical or upright rod 59. This rod and its female connector project through and are movable in an opening 60 in the base of the lock housing 34, the rod being attached at its lower end '61 to and actuated by a foot pedal 62 (Figs. 4 and 6).

Pivotally mounted upon a cross pin 63 carried by the spaced sides 48 and 49 of the latch ybolt 51 at a point spaced from and above the cross pin 56, is one end of a cocking lever or trigger 64, the other end of which is provided with a trigger part or projection 65 adapted to engage a transverse pin 66 anchored in and bridging the opposite side walls 41 and 42 of the lock housing 34. Like the latch bolt 51, this cocking lever or trigger 64 (Fig. l0) has spaced sides 67 and 68 with a web 69 connecting these sides, the cooking lever or trigger being of less width than and conformably received at one `end within the spaced sides 48 and 49 of the latch bolt 51. To spring-bias this cocking lever or trigger 64 ina clock- Wise direction toward cocked position in which the trigger part orprojection 65 engages the cross pin or stop 66, a coil spring 70 is provided .with .one-end 71 of the spring bearing against the web 69.. and the 'other end 72 bearing against the web 53 of the latch bolt Y51 tending to Yelevate the cocking lever or'tn'gger 64 to elevated,

`cocked position.

The lower end 73`of the latchf'bolt 51 ispivotally'con- `nected by a pin 74 to one end 75 of an arm 76, theother end 77 of this arm projecting to adjacent a rotatable lock leaf 78 in the form of a plate connected at 79 to a keylock 81 (Fig. 4). A transverse pin 82 having its ends anchored in the side Walls 41 and 42 of the lock housing, projects through an elongated,longitudinally extending slot 83 in the arm 76.

Av relatively heavy. coil or compression spring 84 bears at one end against the pin 74 and at its other end against the iixed pin 82. Thus the arm 76 is spring-biased toward the right as viewed in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8, and when the latch assembly is in latched position (Figs. 2 and 3) and the lock leaf 78 is moved to a substantially horizontal position as in Fig. 3, the latch assembly is locked and retained in locked position and cannot be released until the lock leaf 78 is rotated to a substantially vertical position (Fig. 2).

Upon depressing the outer or forwardly projecting end of the foot pedal 62 which is pivotally mounted upon `a transverse pin or rod 85 at the base of the cabinet and spring-biased by a relatively heavy coil'spring 86to ele Vated position when pressure is relieved from the foot pedal, the rod 59 (Fig. 4) is depressed or lowered causing the shoulder 87 on the arm or plate 55 to abut the web 53 on the latch bolt 51 and force the lower end 73 of this latch bolt and the arm 76 to the left as viewed in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8.

The lower end 61 of the foot pedal rod 59 projects through an opening 88 in the inturned flange 89 at the base of the cabinet 10 (Figs. 4 and 6) Iand is connected to one end of -a transverse pin 91 disposed in spaced relation `to and forwardly of the transverse pin 8S about which the lfoot pedal 62 pivots. This pin `91 is carried in the spaced and depending flanges 92 of the foot pedal. The opposite ends of the pin 85 'are shown supported in the spaced end walls 93 of a bracket 94 affixed or secured to an inset trim 95 at the base of the cabinet 10. A bellows-type seal 96 preferably of a resilient material, such as natural or compounded synthetic rubber, encompasses the rod 59 and seals the interior of the cabinet to the exterior.

The hooked or latching end 97 of the strike hook 14 is so contoured at 98 as to engage and ride over the stationary roller 38 and when in latching position (Figs.

2, 3 and 4) the angle of the face at 99 tends to maintain the strike hook 14 in latched engagement with the roller 38. The lower or outer face of the strike hook is so cammed or contoured at 101 whereby to engage the movable roller 46 carried at the upper end of the pivotally mounted latch bolt 51, as to swing this roller 46, the adjacent upper end of the latch bolt and the adjacent, connected end of the strike pull plate 44 to the right, as viewed in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8, and away from the stationary roller 38. This latter position is shown in Figs.`5 and 7 where the roller 46 is moved to the right sufficient to allow the hooked or latching end 97 of the strike hook 14 to enter the space between these rollers.

As the lid is being closed, the extreme lower end 102 of the strike hook 14 engages the web 69 of the cocking lever or trigger 64 when in cocked position with its trigger part 65 engaging the stationary or fixed pin 66 (Fig. 7), further downward movement of the lid 11 and the strike hook 14 carried thereby causing the latching end 97 of the strike hook to depress and disengage the trigger part 65 of the cooking lever or trigger 64 from the pin 66 permitting the upper end of the latch bolt 151 to swing to the left and the lower end of the latch-bolt to swing to the right about its pivot 56 due to the springbiasing of the yarm 76, as viewed in Figs. 2 andu3, whereby the roller 46 and the strike pull plate 44-are moved to the left with the 4roller 46 engaging the strike hook 14and the stationary roller or keeper 38 and to latch thelid 11 .in closed position.

aimais When the lid is latched to the cabinet as shown in Figs. 2, Sand 4, in which the hooked end 97 of the strike hook 14 engages ythe stationary roller 38, the strike hook and the lid 11 may be locked against unauthorized opening of the lid by actuating thekeylock 81 through a key or other suitable means to thereby rotate the lock leaf or locking bolt 78 to a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3 from the substantially Vertical position vas shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 8.- In this substantially horizontal position of the lock leaf or locking bolt 78 with the lid latched in closed position, pressure applied to the toot pedal 62 and the rod 59 to lower the latter and cause the shoulder 87 on the plate or arm 55 to move the lower end of the latch'bolt 51`to the left, is ineiective to 'force the arm 76 to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 for the end 77 of this arm would abut the edge of the lock leaf or locking bolt 78 and be prevented thereby from moving sufliciently to the left to swing the upper end -of the latch bolt 51 and the roller 46 carried` thereby to vthe right to release the hooked, latching end `9,7 of the strike hook 14.

When the keylock is unlockedl by an authorized person or one provided with the prescribed key and the lock leaf or lockbolt 78 is rotated to the substantially vertical position of Figs.r2 and 8, stepping yon the foot pedal 62 retracts the foot pedal yrod 59 whereby the shoulder 87 .on the plate or arm y55 swings the lower end of the latch bolt 51 to the left (Figs. 2 and 8) and the upper end of this latch bolt and its roller 46 are moved or swung to the right to release the strike hook 14. At this movement of the latch bolt 51 carries along therewith the strike pull plate 44, the pin 4'7 carried on the free end of the strike pull plate beneath the elongated slot 43, engages and pushes Iagainst the latch end 97 of the strike hook or latching means 14 whereby to disengage the lat-ch end of the strike hook from its keeper Vor roller 38. The lid 11 may now be lifted for access to the interior of `the cabinet lll. As the lid is elevated, the cocking lever or trigger 64 is elevated by its spring 70 until the 4trigger part 65 engages the pin 66, whereby the latch retaining assembly in the cabinet is held in cocked position with the upper `end of the latch bolt 51, the roller 46 carried thereby and the strike pull plate 44 also carried by the upper end of the latch bolt, held in the position shown in Fig. 5.

As the lid is being closed as shown in Fig. 7, the foot pedal rod 59 is in its normal up or elevated position. Fig. 8 shows the lid being opened with the strike hook 1-4 leaving the latch assembly and being pushed to release position by the pin 47. As the strike hook leaves `the latch assembly, the spring-biased latch cocking lever 64 follows the latch end 97 of the strike hook 14 until its trigger part 65 engages and is stopped by the pin or projection 66. As disclosed in Fig. 8, foot pressure is still being applied to the pedal 62 to depress the rod 59 and cause the plate or arm 55 to bear against and move the lower portion of the pivoted latch bolt 51 toward the left. After the foot pressure has been released, the cocking lever 64 becomes fully engaged with the pin or projection 66 and the foot pedal rod 59 again returns to up yor elevated position as shown in Fig. 7.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a cabinet having a lid provided with a pivotally mounted and springbiased strike hook, latch retaining means in the cabinet comprising a housing, a roller mounted upon a stationary pin in the housing and providing a keeper for the strike hook, a strike pull plate having an elongated slot adjacent one end through which projects the stationary pin carrying said roller, a latch bolt pivotally mounted intermediate its length in the housing with one end of said latch bolt pivotally connected to the other end of the strike pull plate and thereat carrying a roller, an arm connected at one end to the other end of the latch bolt withthe other end of this arm mounted for reciprocating movement, means for spring-biasing said arm and the adjacent end of the latch bolt, a projection on the housing, a cocking lever having one end pivotally mounted on the latch bolt and the other end of the cocking lever provided with a trigger part adapted to engage the projection when thestrike hook is disengaged from the latch retaining means, means for spring-biasing the cocking lever to cocked position in which the trigger part engages the projection and the latch bolt is retained in the cocked position when the lid is open, said rollers being so spaced apart that when the latch bolt is in cocked position and the lid is being closed, the strike hook enters the space between the stationary roller and the roller carried by. the 4latch bolt, engages and trips the cocking lever whereby the latch bolt is spring-biased toward latching position with the roller on the latch bolt engaging and forcing the strike hook into latching engagement with the stationary roller, a plate pivotally connected at one end to the latch bolt, and a rod for remote operation of said latch bolt and pivotally connected to the other end of said plate, said platehaving a shoulder adapted to abut and move the latch bolt to unlatched position upon operation of said rod.

2. In a latch mechanism for a cabinet having a lid provided with a pivotally mounted strike hook, latch retaining means in the cabinet comprising a housing, a lixed keeper in the housing provided with a pin, a plate having an elongated solt adjacent one end for receiving said pin whereby said plate is slidably mounted on the pin of the keeper and a projection adjacent said slot, a latch bolt pivotally mounted intermediate its length in the housing with one end of said latch bolt pivotally connected to the other end of the plate and thereat carrying a roller, means for spring-biasing the other end of the latch bolt, a projection on the housing, a cocking lever having one end pivotally mounted on the latch bolt and the other end of the cocking lever adapted to engage the projection when the strike hook is disengaged from the latch retaining means, means for spring-biasing the cocking lever to cocked position in which the other end of the cocking lever engages the projection and the latch bolt is retained thereby in cocked position when the lid is open, said keeper and said roller being so spaced apart that when the latch bolt is in cocked position and the lid is being closed, the strike hook enters the space between the keeper and the roller carried by the latch bolt, engages and trips the cocking lever to disengage it from the projection whereby the latch bolt is spring-biased to latching position with the roller on the latch bolt forcing the strike hook into latching engagement with the keeper, and means including an arm pivotally connected to the latch bolt and provided with a projection for releasing the strike hook from the keeper by pivoting the latch bolt to withdraw its roller and longitudinally move the plate over said pin of the fixed keeper whereby the projection on the plate contacts'and disengages the strike hook from the keeper.

3. In a latch mechanism for a cabinet having a lid provided with a pivotally mounted strike hook, latch retaining means in the cabinet comprising a housing, a fixed keeper in the housing, a slotted plate slidably mounted adjacent one end on the keeper, a latch bolt pivotally mounted intermediate its length in the housing with one end of said latch bolt pivotally connected to the other end of the plate and thereat carrying a roller, means for spring-biasing the other end of the latch bolt, a projection on the housing, a cocking lever having one end pivotally mounted on the latch bolt and the other end of the cocking lever provided with a trigger part adapted to engage the projection when the strike hook is disengaged from the latch retaining means, means for spring-biasing the cocking lever to cocked position in which the trigger part engages the projection and the latch bolt is retained thereby in cocked position when the lid is open, said keeper and roller being so spaced apart that when the. latch bolt .is.in cocked position and the lid` is being closed, thestrikehook enters the space 'between the keeper andthe roller carriedby the latclrbolt, engages and'trips the cockingleverto disengage it from the projection whereby `the`latch bolt is spring-biased to latching position with the' roller on the latch bolt forcing Athe str`ike"hook intolatching engagement withlthe keeper, a` projection on said slotted plate, and means including an arm pivotally connected to the latch bolt and provided with a projection for releasing the strike hook from the' keeper by pivoting the latch bolt to withdraw its roller and' longitudinally move the plate whereby the projection on the plate contacts and disengages the strike hook from the keeper.

4. In a latch mechanism as setV forth in claim l, said latch retaining means including a projection on said strike pull plate for engaging and releasing the strike hook as the latch bolt is tripped to unlatched position.

5. In a latch mechanism as set forth in claim 1, said latch retaining means including auxiliary locking means for retaining the latch bolt against release.

6. In a latch mechanism as set forth in claim 2,- said latch retaining means including foot-actuated meansfor actuating said arm and its projection for releasing the latch bolt to permit withdrawal of the strike hook on opening of the lid.

7.`In a latch'mechanism as set forth in claim 2, said latch retaining means including foot-actuated means for releasing the latch'bolt to permit withdrawal of the strike hook on opening of the lid `and a keylock for retaining the latch bolt against retraction and maintaining the lid closed.

8 In a latch mechanism as set forth in claim 3, said latch retaining means including a foot pedal actuating means for moving said arm and the latch bolt to release position.

9. In a latch mechanism as set forth in claim 3, said latch retaining means including auxiliary locking means for retaining the latch bolt against release.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,614,046 Schmidgall Ian. 1l, 1927 2,348,955 Burchanan May 16, 1944 2,440,734 Burke May 4, 1948 2,659,621 Jacobson NOV. 17, 1953 2,679,422 Anderson May 25, 1954 2,681,819 Burke June 22, 1954 2,687,911 Burke Aug. 31, 1954 

